Illustration of a group of people at a painting class

How to Light Your Creative Spark

Art is a powerful way to communicate ideas, advocate for yourself, and express your emotions. For a person with disabilities, art — in its many forms — can provide another way to share complex feelings that you may have a hard time articulating verbally. Sometimes it can help to draw, paint, sculpt, or even write a song or poem to convey your ideas. 

The Power of Art with Disabilities

Your life experiences provide you with unique insights that can make for a beautiful creative project — a painting, a song, or even an expressive dance movement. The impact of your specific disability on the creative process can vary widely; for example, blind individuals may develop heightened senses of hearing and touch that could lead to innovative musical, writing, or tactile art creations. Some wheelchair users may develop creative tools that influence the designs of their homes or even affect the view they have of the world. And a person with developmental or cognitive disabilities may use unconventional thinking patterns that can lead to remarkable works of art.

For example, the famous Mexican artist Frida Kahlo experienced an accident as a young girl, and because of it she struggled with chronic pain all her life. She harnessed that pain and turned it into self portraits that have been beloved around the world. And American painter Chuck Close suffered from a spinal artery collapse that left him paralyzed from the neck down; he began using a paintbrush strapped to his wrist to create paintings that helped him to express his emotions.

The Benefits of Getting Creative

Tapping into your creativity can also help you work through problems. It helps you break free from standard thought patterns, so you can see problems in new ways. It helps you visualize problems and create mental images of abstract ideas. It also promotes critical thinking by challenging your mind to question assumptions and explore alternate viewpoints.

Creativity has been shown to reduce stress by lowering cortisol levels, and it promotes happiness. It helps you solve problems and reset your mind by allowing you to work in an unstructured way. It’s linked to a better sense of well-being, helps you process difficult emotions, leads to improved cognitive function, triggers dopamine (feel-good chemicals) in your body, helps you work on discovering yourself and tap into your feelings.

What Counts as “Creative”?

Not everyone thinks of themselves as creative, but everyone can be! The key is finding the methods of creativity that interest you. You know that drawing or writing stories is creative, but did you know these activities are creative as well?

  • Inventing objects or processes
  • Gardening
  • Arranging flowers
  • Home decorating
  • Knitting/crocheting/needle arts
  • Scrapbooking or making photo albums
  • Making collages
  • Creating outfits and costumes
  • Cooking
  • Playing a musical instrument
  • Coming up with songs or musical arrangements
  • Making music playlists or compilation discs
  • Dancing
  • Planning trips or events
  • Building websites or blogs

Regardless of your abilities, talents, and experiences, ANYONE can make their own kind of art. Art is a universal language!

Ways to Tap Into Your Creativity

Not sure how to start those creative juices flowing? Here are a few ideas:

  • Use adaptive tools: Finding innovative art tools, such as specialized grips for paintbrushes or digital drawing tablets, by doing a quick online search for “adaptive art tools” or “accessible art projects” can inspire you to try different methods for creating art that you may never have considered before.
  • Make music: Just as there are adaptive art supplies, you can also find adaptive musical instruments or software that can help you to compose or mix music digitally on your phone, tablet, or computer. 
  • Just dance: You can dance on your feet, in a seat, or in a wheelchair. Dancing can improve your flexibility, strength, and coordination. Plus, it’s fun and a great way to relieve stress. Just crank up the tunes and let your body move! There are also a number of adapted dance classes around Nevada where you can learn how to get started (see “Classes and Activities” below.)
  • Be crafty: Crafting is like art, but it involves making objects for a specific purpose — for example, knitting a sweater, making a pottery bowl, or weaving a basket — rather than being an emotional expression for its own sake. Crafting can also be adapted for those with disabilities, such as with automatic needle threaders for sewing, one-handed woodworking clamps, ergonomic knitting needles, and more. Crafting is not only a great way to use your creativity, but it also improves hand-eye coordination, and it’s easy to get started — just purchase your supplies (such as yarn, thread, paints, etc.) and how-to books at stores or online, or you can sign up for a class, such as those at the bottom of this page.
  • Take photos and videos: If you have a smartphone, you can be a photographer or videographer! With a few extra tools — for instance, adaptive camera mounts, remote controls, and editing software — you can start a YouTube channel or create a series of art photos or even your own short film!
  • Write it down: Writing is a powerful way to express your thoughts and feelings. Journaling, writing stories, creating songs or poems, and blogging are all great ways to enhance your mental clarity and communication skills. You might even join a writing group or take a creative writing class.
  • Garden or commune with nature: People don’t often think of gardening as creative, but it can be! From picking out plants to put together in pots to making flower bouquets, creating garden beds, making botanical prints or garden art/sculptures, or using natural materials (flowers, pine cones, etc.) in artworks, there are plenty of ways for nature to help you get in touch with your creative side. Plus, going outside is beneficial in many ways.
  • Try the performing arts: Drama is a great way to foster a sense of community and learn how to express yourself verbally and nonverbally, with your body and facial expressions. Whether you act, design sets, learn lighting, write scripts, or direct other performers, local performing arts groups are always looking for enthusiastic, creative people with diverse abilities and backgrounds who can contribute to their performances.

Using Art to Connect to Others

Art can also be a great way to connect to others, as you work together to create something new. Clubs, classes, and other group activities are a great way to harness creativity while building relationships.

Here are a few ways in which being creative can also help you build connections and make friends:

  • Join a local art class or crafting club to learn and practice alongside other aspiring artisans. Some may also be available online, so you can work with others from the comfort of home.
  • Start or join a club or project group for regular meetups where you can work on specific projects side by side with others. For example, you and a small group can work together to make a short film, build a website, or plan an event.
  • Host a creative night with friends or family, or schedule meetups at local libraries or coffeehouses. You can try painting, pottery, writing, or even making vision boards.

Classes and Activities

The following classes and groups in Northern and Southern Nevada are designed specifically for those with disabilities to access their creative abilities.

Art Therapy Programs

Arts and Crafts Programs

  • Arts for All Nevada: This nonprofit organization in Reno offers several fine art classes to the public and in schools, including painting, drawing, creative writing, and more.
  • City of Las Vegas Adaptive Recreation: Las Vegas residents can take advantage of art, drama club, handbells, and even a calendar of adaptive dance events for those 14 and up.
  • City of Sparks Leisure Without Limits: Sparks Parks and Recreation offers arts and crafts workshops for people of all abilities.
  • Opportunity Village VIA Program: The Very Important Arts program provides art, music, and dance instruction for people with disabilities up to age 22.
  • RAD: This Henderson-based organization, whose name stands for “Real Autism Difference,” offers free art classes twice a month for those with autism and their families.
  • Very Special Camps: This organization hosts Camp Lotsafun in Reno for children, teens, and adults with disabilities. Activities include arts and crafts.

Dance and Movement Classes

Drama/Theater Programs

Music Programs